The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Samar 1st District Engineer Alvin A. Ignacio, together with Planning and Design Section Chief Engr. Albert B. Lazana, took part in the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP) Regional Consultation Workshop held on January 31-February 1, 2019 in Tacloban City, Leyte.
The workshop was spearheaded by DPWH-Region VIII Assistant Director Eric Ayapana and Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Karina Rosa S. Tiopes.
In his welcome speech, ARD Ayapana cited the top three tourism industry concerns in Eastern Visayas to wit, underdeveloped transport infrastructure and tourism facilities; the lack of awareness of the region’s tourism products; and inconsistent standards for tourism facilities and services.
ARD Ayapana said these key challenges need to be addressed in order to achieve the overall vision, goals and targets of the national tourism development plans. He enjoined the stakeholders to help identify, evaluate and prioritize projects in line with the end goal of the DOT-DPWH Convergence Program.
DOT Director Tiopes concurs, saying “kulang ang engagement between stakeholders.” She said many have yet to realize how big the impact of the program is, and cited the impressive development in Calbiga as an example of its impact.
“During consultation with the barangays [there], allow me to express their heartfelt gratitude to DPWH. Damo nga salamat. Because it wasn’t only opening their potential for being a tourist destination in Region 8, but in all other aspects of their lives [may impact],” the director said.
Whereas people used to hike for hours along 14 kilometers of “bad roads” to see the famous Calbiga Caves and Lulugayan Falls, now they can get there on a 15-minute motorcycle ride. That significantly shorter travel could be a lifesaver for the residents as well.
On another note, Director Tiopes stressed the importance of taking sustainability into consideration when planning TRIP projects:
“Whether we accept it or not, there were environmental protocols that we breached when we did our projects... We cannot close our eyes to our responsibility to protect nature. We need to find a balance between development and taking care of the place we call home. So when we plan out our tourism roads, let us please consider what environmental protocols we should take into great consideration.”
The first part of the workshop covered the identification of priority projects for FY 2020, briefing on the policy guidelines for budgeting, assessment of submitted proposals for 2019 funding, and TRIP implementation issues and concerns.
On the second day, the participants had a consultative meeting with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on environmental laws, rules and regulations that govern infrastructure development in protected areas. This was followed by the status reporting for TRIP projects by the various district offices in Eastern Visayas.
Among the existing tourism circuits in Samar are the Lulugayan Falls Tour; the River Cruise in Calbiga River; the Culinary Tour for Binagol Production & Rutchel’s Kitchen; the Twin Waterfalls Trek in Bangon Falls and Tarangban Falls in Calbayog City; and the 915-m Mountain Ridge Trail in Malajog Beach.
The TRIP will cover 1,688 kilometers of tourism roads, divided into 677 projects across sixteen (16) regions, with a total appropriation of P30.9 billion.